Humanitarian demining today
2008
2009
Dramatic change:
2003 – IMAS 09.10 – Clearance Requirements
Wide spread
food crisis
Removal
or destruction
of all mines
First Ottawa treaty deadline for completing clearance
2009 - IMAS 08.20 – Land Release
Acceptance of persistency of residual risk after clearance
Land release
Introduction of a combination of quicker, cheaper and inherently
less reliable methods to lower risk to a tolerable level
Aim:
using full clearance (manual + dogs + traditional demining
machines) exclusively where landmines are:
only 3% of cleared land is contaminated
and releasing the remaining 97% by gathering and managing
information through:
General survey (non-technical  not physically entering the SHA)
Technical survey (technical  using clearance assets, also POOR tools)
Machines on HD tech market
Heavily armoured, highly powered
and high cost equipment
- Like military equipment market
400.000 €
800.000$
1.5250.000€
million$
-Strict requirements:
Performance test (CEN WA: 15044): 450 landmines in 3 lanes
Limited production  only 650 machines operating worldwide
Complex systems  addressing the biggest variety of scenarios
Maintenance often not possible in developing countries
Should these machines be used
for technical survey ?
Too strict requirements?
Too few machines?
Reasonable use only where high concentration of
mines exist
Need of less expensive, more widely available,
more appropriate and sustainable machines
The idea
Agricultural machines for technical survey
Agricultural machines are originally conceived for ground
processing
Largely available and easily repairable
(where not diffuse, an increment in number might be
desirable)
Can be reconverted to original use after clearance
Mature and modular
Help re-localization
Local re-design can favour human development,
empowering end-users
Local re-design helping human development
Human development: provide basic human needs, develop human capabilities,
space to apply assets
Technology: τέχνη, art or craft, and λόγος, word
Agricultural machines for technical survey
Requirements:
• Process ground at constant depth
• Withstand at least one explosion without being severely damaged
• Keep operator safe
Possible solutions – research fields:
Ground processing tools to be attached to STD linkages or animals
for machine safety:
Light modular armouring plus blast resistant wheels
for operator safety:
External remote control
or
Shock isolator (driving wheel/handler, seat)
Agricultural machines for technical survey
For example:
LOCOSTRA
Co-funded by:
Partners and collaborators:
University of
Genova, Italy
Norwegian People’s Aid
– Jordan
LOCOSTRA,
the 50.000€ machine,
a tractor-based, intrusive,
remotely operated, light,
versatile,
VERIFICATION ASSET for
TECHNICAL SURVEY
that can be used for AGRICULTURE
when demining is over
LOCOSTRA tractor
4 wheels mini tractor:
Engine: 77hp, diesel
Weight: 1850 kg
4WD
Reversible
Brakes: 4 disc brakes
Steering: hydraulic, double
Hitch system: 3 point,
lift capacity: 1800kg
LOCOSTRA remote control and armouring
External remote control:
control distance >100m
dual: not interfering with on board control
essential: forward/backward motion
speed
central and frontal steering
3 point linkage system
differential gear blockage
p.t.o
brakes and emergency stop
simple HMI
Armouring (only for AP mines, 250g of TNT):
deflection plates of 3mm thick mild steel
kevlar/aramid coverings for hydraulic hoses
kevlar/aramid curtain
2 electro-hydraulic valves
6 hydraulic valves
1 relay
1 switch
LOCOSTRA blast resistant wheels
Blast resistant and
shock absorbing wheels
reducing acceleration on wheel
axis
2-5 times wrt a steel wheel
LOCOSTRA + ground processing tool
LOCOSTRA + mulcher
LOCOSTRA + metal detector
In-field tests in Jordan
Only possible to the very important collaboration of:
University of Jordan
National Committee for Demining and Rehabilitation
(NCDR)
Norwegian People’s Aid Jordan
Norwegian People’s Aid –
Jordan
Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
In-field tests in Jordan
LOCOSTRA + ground processing tool (NARDI) working
at the border with Syria
In-field tests in Jordan
LOCOSTRA + mulcher (FAE) working at the border with
Israel
In-field tests in Jordan
explosions under LOCOSTRA
240g of TNT
100g of TNT
Main results
LOCOSTRA has proven to be:
Blast resistant up to 280g of TNT: working well after 7 explosions
Easy to deploy (double set of wheels, crane, trailer,..)
Appropriate and sustainable technology (spare parts found on the
local market)
Easy to use (driven succesfully by Frank right after having received
the remote control transmitter in his hands)
Versatile (succesfully employed with potato digger - never used
before - and with mulcher)
Main results
Some agricultural activities that could benefit by LOCOSTRA
tractor:
(picture taken neear by the test areas /minefields)
Main results – Sibenik symposium 2011
Main results – Sibenik symposium 2011
The pink tractor small revolution
LOCOSTRA Vs another machine for demining (original size)
Contacts
emanuela elisa cepolina
patfordemining@gmail.com
gianni polentes
info@pierretra.com
matteo zoppi
zoppi@dimec.unige.it